As a school we are part of many communities, reaching out into Southborough and beyond to the wider world. We feel that it is important for all of our children to acknowledge the part that they can play in the lives of others.

PTA Events

There are many events over the school year, which are organised and run by our successful PTA. Community events, which are open to all members of the local community, include:

Fireworks, Christmas Fair and Summer Fair

We also have successful fundraising events run within the PTA school community including:

Bingo, Quiz and family fun nights

Being Healthy and Staying Safe

Life Education Bus: The bus visits with specialist teachers in Term 1 to deliver workshops which range from understanding the human body to introducing drug and alcohol safety awareness to children in Upper Key Stage 2. The Life Bus is sponsored by Rotary.

Fire Safety: Our local Fire Safety Officer visits every year to talk to the children about how to respond if they find a fire and how to prevent fires.

Road Safety: Presentations and workshops are held for all children to ensure they understand how to stay safe and to reinforce key messages such as the 'Green Cross Code'.

School Nurse: Height and weight checks are carried out in Reception and Year 6, in addition children in Reception also have a hearing test. The School Nurse has regular drop in sessions at the Sure Start Family Centre and can be contacted via Mrs Brewin in the Infant office should a parent wish to speak to her.

St. John's Swimming Pool: Each Tuesday two classes from Year 4 and 5 walk to St. John's Swimming Pool for their swimming lessons. These lessons are taught by swimming instructors from St. Johns or our own school staff who are certified to teach swimming. Each of these year groups has 3 terms swimming per year.

Local Events

Easter Parade: A highlight of the year where Infant children proudly parade the Southborough streets in their fabulous bonnets.

Bliss Café: Year 6 children have a valuable insight into the world of work at our local community cafe, and get hands on experience at running a business. Every Friday afternoon Y6 pupils work in the café taking on preparation and front of house roles.

Choir: The choir regularly perform at local churches and venues such as the Victoria Hall. They are also key performers at the annual Goodwill Carol Concert. In 2014 our Junior Choir took part in the Young Voices concert at the O2 in London.

Community Lantern Making: Always a popular crafting event held on a Saturday in January/February where all are invited to make a lantern for the winter parade in Tunbridge Wells.

Senior Citizens' Lunch: an opportunity to include the wider community, many of whom have previous links to the school. Lunch is provided by our in-school caterers, Independent, every Friday and taken to Christchurch next door. Our choir sings at specific times in the year and the senior citizens are invited to our school performances.

Trips and Visits

We are fortunate to receive support from parents both financially and giving up their time to accompany children on school trips, these include: visitng Kew Gardens, The Maritime Museum, Chatham Dockyard, Bodiam Castle and Hastings to name but a few.

Sports Partnership: through links with the local sports partnership coaching and expertise has been shared amongst local schools. Year 6s have been trained to become sports leaders and children of all ages have experienced competitive sport, competing with local schools.

Tunbridge Wells Collaboration of Primary Schools: Headteachers, Subject leaders and classteachers meet regularly with colleagues in other Tunbridge Wells Schools to share and develop good practice in all areas of primary education. Working together with other schools has brought about exciting learning opportunities such as the introduction of Forest School and themed science days for able and enthusiastic scientists.

Parent Links

Alongside parents watching music and drama performances, other examples of how parents and grandparents get more involved with their children's school life include:

Themed lunches - parents are invited to have a school lunch with their child which is linked to their topic.

School Trips.

Parent and Grandparent volunteers - they help with a wide variety of activities including reading, art, knitting, opening our library and infant cooking.

World Links

Africa: We enjoy strong links with 2 schools in Kenya and the Education for Life charity which seeks to improve life chances and opportunities by helping local children receive an education and learn essential skills to improve their prospects. Recently we have donated uniform and football kits. The children and staff plan and organise a variety of fund raising events and most recently we were able to provide a cow for the charity to add to their farming programme.

World Book Day: the children (and even some staff!) love to dress up as their favourite book characters, celebrating the rich world of literature from a variety of cultures.

Spain: The pinnacle of our children's school trips comes in Year 6 when the children head off to Madrid to experience life in a Spanish school, not to mention some memorable sight seeing and shopping experiences. In the run up to the trip the children establish firm friendships with their Spanish pen pals and learn Spanish as part of the Modern Foreign Languages curriculum. Southborough enjoy hosting our Spanish friends and the whole school get involved in showing the visitors what life in an English school is like.

Charities

Southborough has a strong tradition of helping others and encouraging children to embrace and empathise with the needs of others. Throughout the school year we are involved with a range of local, national and international charities including, Africa (Education for Life and Gataka Nursery School in Nairobi), Rotary Shoe Box Appeal, Red Nose Day, Children in Need, Heart Start, The Royal British Legion, Macmillan Cancer Research and the Rotary Shelter Box Appeal.